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Oliver's replacement of Flaherty reassures Canada's Bay Street
In tapping 73-year-old Natural Resources Minister and former investment banker Joe Oliver to replace retiring Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, the prime minister has apparently opted for public confidence over personal charisma in an attempt to reassure Bay Street — and Canadian voters — that the economy is being passed from one seasoned hand to another. At risk is the Conservative brand, built on a perception of economic stewardship. That is the party’s political strength, and with the next federal election barely 18 months away, no one was more closely associated with the fiscal brand than Flaherty, the only ... (full story)